The Chaos Circles #7

Romantic? Jaque? Lya had watched him grew to become a man better than his own family ever did. But romantic? Probably the closest thing to it was how he stopped a green grass snake that had threatened to strike at Gemianna Leighamdottir. And ten years later, how that same girl became his first maiden, would dance only with Jaque and no other men at Enatuh's harvest day or on the Peak Days festivals, and would not let him dance or speak to other girls, including Lya.

Lya scolded herself for letting her mind wander again. Gemianna was already happily married to someone else and would soon be expecting her first child, a Jeramson perhaps, if Channeler Harrietta were right in her guessing. She buttoned the soft woollen brown dress she had chosen while Faerilla dried and brushed her hair. If everything goes just as planned...

A firm knock made by a heavy hand made Lya's heart skipped a beat. The intruder seemed to be in a hurry, for he (if it was a man) knocked a few more, each made louder, before Faerilla even got to the door.
"We are not ready," said Faerilla, through the wooden door.
"Please Mrs. Samuel. The matter I need to speak to you is urgent," answered the deep voice of Terrence Jaymes.

Faerilla looked to Lya with a familiar mix of gaze and nod that said get-dressed-quickly-and-I-will-be-back. Lya brushed her hair a few times before abandoning the brush and walking quickly but soundlessly to eavesdrop from the keyhole. Had Jaque left earlier? Did Mr. Jaymes catch him in the act? The voices of her mother and Mr. Jaymes were low but she could make out snatches of their conversation.

"... will have to be postponed. Even tonight," said Terrence.
"I don't understand," said Faerilla.
"A messenger from Hillway Path had just arrived. His horse had almost fainted with exhaustion and he is no better. Your husband had called for every available clansmen to the Hall."
"Hillway Path? Oh Terrence, you don't think?"
"Hadn't Handred mention it before? There's no time for the Bonding Night. And bring Lya too."

On instinct, Lya tore herself away from the door and tried her best to look as if she had been busy and successful with her hair. A few moments later, the door opened to reveal a grave faced Faerilla. Lya tried her best to look innocent despite the uncomfortable boiling hot pit in her stomach.
"Let me do that darling, before you make yourself go bald," said her mother in a gentle voice.
She took the hairbrush from Lya's hand. Trying to keep her own hands busy, Lya adjusted the buttons and smoothed the creases on her dress.

Faerilla seemed to be worried. The sudden silence between them only made Lya more anxious, especially since her mother hardly ever kept herself quiet about anything worth telling.
"Erm... Mother?" She tried to start something, hoping to receive something important.
As she had been reading her mind, Faerilla's response was in a soft tone but it still held a sharp edge to her tongue.
"We're going to the Hall soon. I'll see if Dydine would let us pack some bread and cheese to supp in case you'd get hungry."

It was still unsatisfactory to Lya, but she kept the thought to herself. A lady should not be disturbing her elder's troubled mind with her own curiosity. She finished quickly, tying a neat braid and both women left the bedroom in wide strides. Faerilla held a strong grip to her daughter's hand as they walked across the empty and quiet corridors. In all the time she visited Jaque during her childhood days, Lya had never felt the house so disturbingly quiet.

The Jaymes's home at the farm was not very large as compared to the fields they owned and all rooms were built on the ground floor. But it still was a grand old home made of good old oak, hickory and other hardwoods added throughout the years. Lya had always liked it better than her father's cold stone manor where she lived. It was once the main Jaymes family home until Finnigan Jaymes, Jaque's eldest uncle, build a stone house of his own closer to the village centre.

Dydine was already at the entrance room with a covered basket at one hand. Behind her was tiny Kennick, holding his fists to his mother's skirts and his face solemn. He stared at Lya with wide eyes behind his golden fringe. Faerilla took the basket from Dydine and muttered a brief thanks.
"Aren't you coming with us, Mother Jaymes?" asked Lya.
Dydine patted her large belly and shook her head.
"I would stay here and take care of my other sons. All of them are too young to attend."

Faerilla passed the basket to Lya's hand as they left the house. A rising cinnamon smell of freshly baked bread with soft cream cheeses rose from the cloth covered. If Lya had not been feeling so nervous, she would have peeked to see if Dydine had included some spiced chicken.

Outside were Terrence and her father Handred, both were saddled on their horses and wore smart dark coats with blank faces. Jaque had just strapped on the ropes on bulky old Ned the mule. Beside them was the horse buggy Lya and her mother had arrived in, its one stallion looked annoyed to be harnessed in so soon. The two grown men were in a deep conversation but ended abruptly when they saw Lya and her mother.

"Jaque, go and help the ladies into the buggy," said Terrence.
Jaque complied obediently. Handred looked away for a moment and then he said to them, "I have to go right now. They'll be expecting me to be the first to greet them."

Terrance only nodded. The old Samuelson kicked his heels to his horse's flanks and he was gone like lightning. If possible Lya felt even more scared. She looked straight at Jaque, trying to catch his eye as he held out his hand to aid her into the buggy.

Jaque could see her questioning look and countered with his own grimmer gaze.
"What it is?" Lya asked before he did. She was careful to keep her voice from her Faerilla, even though her attention was on the sight of her disappearing husband.
"You told me before that the King's Mages are coming? Well, they are almost here," said Jaque.
"So soon? But it is a good long way from Aqanau!" gasped Lya.
Jaque shook his head and returned her the food basket.
"I don't know how, Lya. I just don't know."

Before he turned to his Mother Samuel, Lya leaned over and touched lightly on his shoulder. She stared at him with her own serious, solemn stare.
"This changes everything."
"This changes nothing," said Jaque.

To be continued...